Very pricey but a trip isn't complete unless you've consider a luau. I booked it since the luau…read morewas held on the premises of our resort where we stayed. The big draw was the fire show which originated in Samoa. The first three rows are premium seating. We sat in row 2 by the stage. The venue is very small so all seats would have sufficed. There was a woman blocking my view of the stage. So much for premier seating. Although premier seating included a fresh orchid lei and a box of shortbread cookies from Big Island Candies of Hilo. And first in line to the buffet dinner. There's an open bar. I had a red wine which I didn't care for as the wine sat out in the Hawaiian heat. There's spirits, mixed drinks, sodas, and mocktails available. The luau - the Kalua pig is cooked in an imu onsite. You can watch the pig being unearthed at the luau. If you've never seen it done, it's a very authentic experience. There was a live band followed by the hula show. The show represented the Polynesian islands. It concluded with the fire show which was the highlight. Next time we'll sit in the general seating area since it's a small venue located at the Marriott.

This sunset luau has got to be one of the most expensive luaus I have ever attended. For almost…read more$220 an adult and then kids I don't even want to know how much you have to pay for them. My kids thank God we're free, age 5 and under are free. I have gone to 4 luaus, 2 in Oahu and 2 in maui and although I know generally all luaus are kind of the same I wanted to see how Big island threw there luaus. It was a good luau, the dancers were all very good and enthusiastic. Total of 6-8 dancers. The fire show and the haka part stole the show. All of the dancing was generally entertaining. The food was buffet style and the food was actually pretty good. They had a wide variety of food including some fish, steak and the pork they showed in a ceremony how to cook. They have someone take professional pictures for you and that vendor was very kind and took their time to get the perfect picture, one hard copy photo and the digital download is $40 plus tax. The bar is open bar and they have every possible drink that isn't blended. The drinks were super strong and good and the bartenders were nice as well. I will say I saw some comments saying the guests and people walking by can view some parts of the show from the side etc but that's just really ghetto lol I mean u can't help that but it's just not the same bc ur just watching from the dancers back and a weird view. Luaus are generally meant maybe once in a lifetime, but I do love learning about the culture and traditions and dancing of Hawaii. It is very expensive, but generally a good show. It's not one of the best luaus I've been to, but it's not horrible. I wish there were more activities for people before the actual show, they only had one hula person teach like a 6 min hula. Also side note if you ask the servers about your kids you can ask for pizza or chicken fingers and fries on the side for them, they don't let you know that prolly to save money lol but I knew beforehand to ask.

This was one of my favorite moments from our recent visit to Hawaii. I swear that we were…read moreliterally treated like ohana. Leslie and her small staff were so kind and welcoming. There is something to be said about the view and the fantastic coffee!!!! Wow was it top tier! It feels like a custom tropical treehouse. We sat around her concrete table as we sipped sample after sample of award winning Kona coffee. On the TV we watched a live feed of the volcano. It was such a genuine experience all the way through. She took the time to walk us around the farm and explain the entire process. So much effort goes into making such a delicious cup of coffee. This place is highly recommended. It has extremely limited hours so be sure to be mindful of that .

A fantastic and personal tasting and tour that was so gratifying and wonderful. Leslie and Etsi…read morewere wonderful and really made us feel like old friends! We were served several tastings of the coffee (7 or 8 small cups) and every cup was delicious! My favorite was the SL34 and I purchased a purchased a pound and half of it. After the tastings, we were taken on a tour around the farm and processing areas and it was so great to see Leslie treat the workers with love and respect. It was genuinely the best coffee farm we had been to...and we've been to several! The view is beautiful as well. The hours are extremely limited so make sure to make plan to come.

This review is for the Twilight Volcanoes and Stargazing Tour, with tour guide Drew…read more My partner and I had never been to the Big Island before, so we chose a tour that would essentially bring us around the island and visit some of the major "must-see" locations. We also happen to love astronomy, which made the stargazing tour an easy choice for us. It was also extremely important that we selected an experience that offered *small* tour groups and was locally owned and operated. Drew was an absolutely fantastic and entertaining host. His enthusiasm and knowledge shines through the way he spoke non-stop from the moment he picks you up. On this tour, we visited Bay View Coffee Farm, Punalu'u Bake Shop, Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, and stargazed near Mauna Kea. This was a LONG tour, but was filled with so much fun that time flew by. Although we missed Kīlauea's most recent fountaining episode (51) by a few days, Drew still made time for us to catch the lava glow which was super cool and a highlight of the tour. Our weather was not super favorable with thick, overcast skies; and my partner and I actually gave up on our hopes of stargazing. But Drew is so observant of the weather that when a window to view the night sky opened up, he did so. He provided thick coats to those that needed them and spent some time pointing out different stars and constellations. By this time in the evening, it was really cold and we didn't mind our limited stargazing time. We truly enjoyed our experience, as well as Drew's expertise and respect in regards to Hawai'i's culture and history. We highly recommend that you take a Wasabi Tour early in your trip (like first day if you can), and then you can tailor the rest of your Big Island afterward.

Our family of 6 decided to tour the big island in Hawai'i also called Hawai'i. After checking out…read moresome touring companies we decided on Wasabi Tours. We did a 2 day package encompassing the islands most beautiful waterfalls, nature reserves, botanical gardens, volcanoes, beaches coffee farms on old town Hilo. On our first day with Jason our driver and guide picked us up on time and with a smile. He shared his knowledge along the way wearing a microphone in the van so everyone could hear comfortably. At the attractions he was with us giving us history of all the waterfalls. Whiles driving he told us about the sites inbetween. At lunch time he provided us a delicious meal from a local restaurant. Day 2 with our driver Derek was in another new van that was also comfortable and roomy. Derek took us to a working coffee plantation to see, smell and walk through the farm. At Kīlauea volcano national park where we got to see upclose and personal the caldera in all its majesty. All the time telling the history and recent activity of the volcano. We saw and walked on a beautiful black sand beach with segregated sea turtle nesting area where we saw a turtle swimming ashore and resting at waters edge before digging a hole in the black sand to lay her eggs in preparation for the next generation of turtle, we walked down and into a 30 meter lava tube and got to visualize the path of a whole lotta molten rock traveling through centuries before. Culminating the day's trip by stopping on a mountain top in almost complete darkness, the moon was in a waxing crescent and producing very little nighttime light. We bundled up to stay warm in the 50 degree Fahrenheit temperature to stargaze. It was refreshing in the cold air, outside the van huddled in a group while Derek pointed out, planets, stars, constellations and galaxies as we stood in awe of the majesty above us. Wasabi Tours, Jason and Derek were on-time, safe, informative and most of all fun to spend our time with. I highly recommend taking a Wasabi tour to REALLY see the big island. Thank you all!

We went out twice with Kona Style and had fantastic experiences both times…read more The morning sail and snorkel was beautiful and relaxing -- we saw lovely views of the coast, lots of fish (including flying fish as we sailed to the bay), urchins, and even some dolphins. While we didn't partake in the breakfast fruit or mini muffins on board, the pre-departure coffee was welcome and yummy. On the return, we greatly appreciated and enjoyed our boxed lunches (the salad was particularly great!). We had the option for complimentary light drinks or to purchase cocktails but just drank our water. Then we did the really late night manta snorkel, which was intense but truly awesome -- the mantas came within inches of our faces repeatedly, and we were often surrounded by a school of decently sized fish. Because everyone in the group is lined up along the same lighted board, you're very close to your neighbors, but the sea life is so majestic that you barely notice anything above the water. Cocktails available for purchase on the way there, and complimentary hot cocoa on the way back. We had the same competent and professional, yet friendly, crew for both outings. They prioritized both safety and comfort. We had plenty of time in the water. Boat was clean and well-stocked (including the bathroom and when my daughter needed a band-aid). They played fun music. Masks fit us well and didn't fog up. Other provided gear included noodles to make floating easier, reef safe sunscreen for the day snorkel, and wetsuit tops for the night snorkel. Highly recommend, would love to do again.

We just did the sunset manta ray snorkel and the whole family had a great time and experience. The…read morewhole crew was fantastic! If you're looking for a company to do this snorkel with...these are your guys/gals!

Came here to see the new Project Hail Mary movie, but I wasn't too impressed with the theatre…read moreitself. First of all, is was a little over $20 for a ticket. I know it's Hawai'i, but that seems expensive to me. Also, the seats weren't too comfortable. I don't know if it was just my seat, but the headrest was very big and stuck out very far past the seat, putting my head and neck at an awkward forward position for the full 156 minutes. Lots of people review food here, but I didn't get any food.

The Waikoloa Cinema is located at the Queens Marketplace in Waikoloa Beach Resort. The Bistro…read morerestaurant located in the theater can bring drinks and food to your seat. You have to go through the restaurant and outside patio to get to your theater. They definitely want you to buy something. The theater was small but the sound and screen were fine. They have comfortable seating with swing out tray tables but the seats do not recline. There are no restrooms near the theater. You have to again go through the patio and inside restaurant to get to the only restroom located near the entrance. The not so subtle message seems to be, buy something please! Argh. We saw the latest Prada 2 movie. It was a great way to get out of the sun and enjoy an early matinee.

The reviews are spot-on! Hala Tree is fantastic!…read more I don't even drink coffee and I lived every minute of our tour. Kat was a wonderful guide who showed us the farm, how coffee is grown, harvested, and processed. She served us coffee and caffeine-free herbal tea (yay!) and helped us choose gifts for family and friends in their cute gift shop. A lovely afternoon on a beautiful, welcoming farm. Put this on your list!

Loved this coffee farm and the tour we got! It was intimate and very personal. We had all of our…read morequestions answered, got great recommendations for which coffee to taste and learned a lot about the coffee making process. It was fun to learn about Kona coffee and what sets it apart from all other coffee types. It was fun to do a coffee flight taste test along with the complimentary taste test. We also got to pick some avocados and macadamia nuts on the farm. My husband found this place by happenstance and I'm so glad he did! I definitely recommend this coffee farm and the tour.

This company did not disappoint! Mac was a phenomenal guide--extremely knowledgeable, professional,…read morecourteous, and accommodating. He didn't just share information about the places we visited; he brought them to life and made the entire experience memorable. I highly recommend this company, and if you can, be sure to ask for Mac.

What an amazing experience. We booked a tour to see the lava fields and enjoy a snorkeling…read moreadventure and it was a full day of adventure. Keep in mind there is no snorkeling on this excursion and the area around the Hilton is not safe or appropriate for snorkeling. I am writing the review solely on the lava field excursion part. My wife was very dissapointed that there was no snorkeling as we purchased new snorkeling equipment. Roxy was our tour guide and was probably the most knowledgeable and professional tour guide we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Roxy was knowledgeable in the history of volcanoes on Hilo and elsewhere, horticulture, bird species, animals, Hawaiian culture, tourist attractions, history of the Hawaiian Islands, tribes and Capt. Cook, beaches, teachings, burial practices and so much more. Roxy told stories of the early days in Hawaii and how it evolved. Also as a noted her driving and safety practices were impeccable. If you are planning to come to Hilo you must make it a point to reach out to Roxy. We spent approximately 8 hours on the tour and it was so enriching although the lack of snorkeling was a dissapointment . Highly recommended Mahalo

Attended a lunch thru dinner (corporate) event for 150 at the ranch. They did an excellent job for…read morethe 7+ hour event. ATV, horseback, Pinzgauer (jeep) and helicopter rides. This pilot liked the (Paradise Helicopters) operation; good equip, plenty of safety staff, flown by former Marine Corp aviators. Pinzgauer drivers were exceptionally knowledgeable about plants, birds, geology and Pacific island history. Other entertainment included roping, saddle making and branding demos. Lunch buffet was salad, BBQ pork ribs, BBQ chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, rolls, pie, soft drinks and water. After returning from our events, appetizers included shrimp, sushi, sashimi, fruit, Italian meat roll-ups, beer, wine and water. John (Ranch owner/manager) had a good patter about Ranch ops and history. Staff was knowledgeable, attentive, helpful and focused on fun (with appropriate safety) ops. Band was good. They have a wide ranging repertoire. A bit too loud, as it was difficult to chat with co-workers and spouses that we only see once per year.

Sunset, Food, Relaxing! Way up north of Kona in the rolling green hills of Waimea/Kohala, there is…read morea hidden gem, the Evening at the Ranch. This is a true Hawaiian experience most people don't know about. Hawaii, especially Big Island, is known for a rich ranching background. A working ranch by day and every Wednesday night, they turn it into a BBQ Dinner experience. It kind of reminds me a bit like a Luau, but country style. Rolling green hills and pasture lands. Open bar, all you can eat feast and those slabs of macadamia nut pie are delightful! A great activity for all ages. Very relaxing and low key. If you have done a Luau then try this next.